Submarine mounted antenna erection device



A. K. DAGGETT SUBMARINE MOUNTED ANTENNA ERECTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l N w KKK INVENTOR. HLBEIZT K. DRGGETT Oct. 8, 1963 Filed June 5. 1960 2 l miBEIQbM k0 News 30 Oct. 8, 1963 A. K; DAGGETT 3,105,712

SUBMARINE MOUNTED ANTENNA ERECTION DEVICE Filed June 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s'rmz-r RELAY 52 BHTTERY IN V EN TOR. ALBERT K. D0665 TT United States Patent 3,106,712 SUBMARINE MOUNTED ANTENNA ERECTIQN DEVICE Aibert K. Daggett, Fulierton, Califi, assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary or the Navy Filed June 3, 1960, Ser. No. 33,359 3 Claims. (Cl. 343709) This invention relates to antenna erection devices and is particularly directed towards an antenna erection device for use in an underwater submarine decoy wherein an externally mounted antenna is erected automatically by the transfer of energy internally from the submarine simulator to the externally mounted antenna through a watertight mechanism. Prior to the utilization of the instant device, the motive power for erecting and retracting antennas on a submarine decoy, was mounted external to the decoy, and watertight seals were placed around the shaft bearing. This resulted in bulky simulators which did not provide the required silhouette of a submarine. In addition, numerous problems with watertight seals and humidity provided troublesome operation. The instant invention obviates these difficulties by providing all of the erection motive power within the simulator shell, a positive watertight seal about the driving shaft and automatic programming and limit switches for the erection and retraction of the antenna.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel antenna erection and retraction apparatus using cylinder and piston movements with 0 rings to provide a watertight mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel antenna erection and retraction means using cylinder and piston movements with 0 rings for watertight seals with a timing circuit for automatic operation thereof.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a novel antenna erection and retraction apparatus in a submarine simulator.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the assembled antenna erection mechanism;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the antenna erection mechanism; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the antenna erection timing circuits.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the hull member has a hole 12 cut in its upper surface for the erection mechanism 14. The erection mechanism comprises an external cylinder member 16, a retaining ring 1 8 which screws onto the cylinder member 16 to seal the cylinder member within hole 12 in the hull 1i}. 0 ring 20 is located underneath retaining ring 18 providing a watertight seal for the cylindrical member on hull 10. Piston member 22 is comprised of a multiple flange section 24 and two end members 26 and 28 respectively, which are respectively and hingably connected to each respective end of said piston flange member 24. The piston flange member 24 has recesses for O ring seals 30. Piston member 22 is placed within cylinder member '16 and motion is transmitted through the piston from the internal part of the submarine decoy to the externally mounted antenna with the flange piston member 24 and the 0 rings 30 forming a watertight seal preventing water from entering the hull member. Lever member 32 is rotatably pin mounted by pin 34 onto flange member 36 of cylinder 16. Hingable member 28 of piston member 22 is rotatably connected to one edge of lever member 32 by means of pin 38. Angular block 41 is secured about the external portion of cylinder 16 and about the driving motor 42. The hinge portion connecting rod 26 or" the piston 22 is rotatably connected to lever 44 which is secured to the shaft of motor 42. Up limit switch 46 is interconnected with the input driving power to motor 42 and contnols the upper limit of rotation of this motor and therefore piston 22. Down limit switch 48 is operatively interconnected with the driving power for motor t2 and thereby controls the downward limit of piston 22. The up and down limit switches 46 and 48 respectively, and the driving motor 42 are interconnected with the driving power from battery 59. The erection motor circuit is completed from ground through contacts 8-10 of start relay 52, contacts 7-5 of hydrofloat relay 54, and contacts 2-1 of hydrostat switch '56. This hydrostat switch 56 opens when the pressure exceeds eight pounds per square inch. The circuit is also completed through contacts 3-1 of hydrofioat relay 54-, contacts 12-14 of start relay 52, contacts 8-10 of erection motor relay 58, and the contacts of switch 60 to the battery supply $0. When the erection motor circuit is completed, that is when the aforementioned relay and switch contacts close, the erection motor 42 commences running in the up direction. Down limit switch 48 opens its 1-3 contacts in a matter of two or three seconds. Con-tacts 5-7 of delay relay 62 close for a predetermined period thus preventing the inadvertent energizing of auxiliary start relay 64 before the start relay 52, 1-3 contacts open. The antenna rises until the up limit switch '46, contacts 11-2 close. At this time the erection motor relay 58 is energized opening the erection motor circuit contacts 8-10 (and placing +24 volts through its 9-10 contacts on the radio start relay 66, number 1 contact).

The erection motor relay circuit is completed through switch 69 to provide B-lfor the sonic simulator, echo repeater and a directional finder transmitter. These circuits are shown in co-pending application, Serial No. 21,844, filed April 12, 1960, now Patent No. 3,092,684. The direction finder transmitter emits a radio signal when the antenna is: erect and the sonic simulator puts out an audible signal. At this time the radio start receiver filaments are energized through the 5-6 contacts on erection motor relay $3.

T he start relay 52 energizes through contacts 9-10 of the erection motor relay '58 and through the radio start relay 66, contacts 1-2. Relay 52 locks in through its own 3-2 contacts. The circuit is completed through the contac-ts of relay 68, the stop relay.

The erection motor 4-2 starts in the retraction direction through delay relay 62 contacts 5-7, hydrofloa-t relay 54 contacts 14-12, down limit switch '48 contacts 1-3, hydrofloat relay 54 contacts *1 0-8, start relay 52 contacts 9-10, hydr-ofloat relay 54 contacts 7-5, hydrostat switch contacts 2-1 and through hydrofloat relay 54 contacts 3-1 and start relay 52 contacts 12-13 to ground. Erection motor relay 58 is de-energized when the antenna starts down by the opening of the up limit switch 46 contacts 1-2. Contacts 5-6 of start relay 52 close to spin the gyroscope. The erection motor stops in the antenna down positions since the motor circuit is now opened by the open contacts l-3 of the down limit switch 48. The auxiliary start relay 64 is energized. At this time the circuit is completed tnom switch 60 through contacts 5-7 of time delay relay 62, hydrofloat relay 54 contacts 14-12, down limit switch 48 contacts 1-2 and erection motor relay 58 contacts 3-1.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light 'of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for erecting and retracting an antenna on a submerged structure comprising a container mounted in Watertight relation to a submersed body, a plunger member slidably mounted in said container, said container having a bore through which said plunger extends, said bore extending through said container from end to end, said plunger having an annular groove on its outer periphery, a resilient sealing ring in said annular groove encompassing said plunger, a first and second rod member, each of said rod members being hingably connected to the respective ends of said plunger member, said first rod member being hingably connected to a lever member external to said submersed body, said lever member being rotatably connected to said container member whereby movement of said plunger member within said container member causes said lever member to rotate about its fulcrum point, said second rod member being hingably connected to an eccentric shaft mounting member, said shaft mounting member being rotated by driving means whereby said driving means rotate said eccentric shaft member thereby causing said second connecting rod member to move said piston within said container and thereby moving said first connecting rod and said lever and causing said lever to rotate about its fulcrum.

2. The combination of claim 1 and up and down limit switches rigidly mounted to said driving means and interconnected with the electrical power circuitry for said driving means whereby said up and down limit switches control the amount of rotation of said driving means,

thereby controlling the motion of the lever mounted external to said submerse d body, said piston mounted within said container being watertight with respect to the liquid located on the external side of said submersed body, said watertight condition being maintained by said resilient ring member located Within the annular grooves of said piston.

3. An antenna erection mechanism comprising a cylinder member mounted in an underwater craft hull, first Watertight means interconnecting said cylinder and said hull, piston means mounted within said cylinder member for movement therein, second watertight means interconnecting said piston means with the interior wall of said cylinder member, actuating means hingedly connected to the inner side of said piston means and hinge means on the external side of said piston means whereby said actuating means move said piston within said cylinder for raising and lowering an antenna connected to said external hinge means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,306,145 Hammond June 10, 1919 1,546,579 Hammond July 21, 1925 2,556,785 Abbott June 12, 1951 2,703,739 Koplin Mar. 8, 1955 2,819,619 Peters Jan. 14, 1958 2,947,856 Fox Aug. 2, 1960 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ERECTING AND RETRACTING AN ANTENNA ON A SUBMERGED STRUCTURE COMPRISING A CONTAINER MOUNTED IN WATERTIGHT RELATION TO A SUBMERSED BODY, A PLUNGER MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CONTAINER, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A BORE THROUGH WHICH SAID PLUNGER EXTENDS, SAID BORE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CONTAINER FROM END TO END, SAID PLUNGER HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE ON ITS OUTER PERIPHERY, A RESILIENT SEALING RING IN SAID ANNULAR GROOVE ENCOMPASSING SAID PLUNGER, A FIRST AND SECOND ROD MEMBER, EACH OF SAID ROD MEMBERS BEING HIGABLY CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF SAID PLUNGER MEMBER, SAID FIRST ROD MEMBER BEING HINGABLY CONNECTED TO A LEVER MEMBER EXTERNAL TO SAID SUBMERSED BODY, SAID LEVER MEMBER BEING ROTATABLY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTAINER MEMBER WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID PLUNGER MEMBER WITHIN SAID CONTAINER MEMBER CAUSES SAID LEVER MEMBER TO ROTATE ABOUT ITS FULCRUM POINT, SAID SECOND ROD MEMBER BEING HINGABLY CONNECTED TO AN ECCENTRIC SHAFT MOUNTING MEMBER, SAID 